DUI Defense

What you need to know when you face a charge

Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal. These offenses are referred to using a number of different terms:

DWI: Driving while intoxicated

DUI: Driving under the influence

OUI: Operating while intoxicated

No matter what the name, you will be charged with a crime if you are driving while impaired. In the state of New Hampshire, being charged with a DUI is incredibly serious. You could lose your driver's license, pay large fines, and possibly serve jail time. To fight these charges properly and preserve your record, you need a DUI attorney who has your best interests in mind. The attorneys at Burns, Bryant, Cox, Rockefeller & Durkin, P.A. know and have what it takes to defend you against DUI charges.

DWI/DUI/OUI charges

In the state of New Hampshire, you may be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs if your blood alcohol content is above the legal limit of .08. If you are under the age of 21, the blood alcohol content you may be charged for is .02. This is due to the fact that you are under the legal age to drink. If you are impaired by drugs while driving, whether they be legal or illegal, you can also be charged with a DUI.

The consequences of these charges depend on the amount of alcohol or drugs in your system, as well as if you have ever had any similar convictions. When it comes to facing incarceration, you may face a longer jail sentence and higher fines if your blood alcohol content is on the higher side. Other factors, such as driving drunk with a child in the car, may result in a harsher sentence. Penalties for misdemeanor DUI can include:

Loss of driver's license

Permanent criminal record

Higher insurance rates

Community Service

Probation

Mandatory Drug or Alcohol counseling

For repeat offenders, or those whose actions would be considered aggravating factors, it may rise to the level of a felony.

Getting help for DWI/DUI/OUI charges in New Hampshire

Being charged with DUI is a serious matter, one that can not only impact your driving record, but your life as a whole. A DUI is a black mark on your license, your reputation, and your wallet. You need to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible to fight for your rights and against the DUI charges you may be facing. We can provide these services to you in several areas throughout New Hampshire.

We offer a multitude of services, and can explain all the legal options available to you, including:

Defending yourself using various strategies: Some factors are not brought into consideration, such as the fact that your BAC tends to rise even after you stop drinking. You may have been below the legal limit when you started driving, and above it when you were stopped to be tested.

Introducing reasonable doubt: The breathalyzer may have not been functioning correctly. Often, they are not properly calibrated, and thus may not have calculated the proper BAC.

Keeping evidence out of the courtroom: Your constitutional rights may have been violated by an illegal search or seizure, and thus the evidence obtained may not be used against you in a legal setting.

To learn more about the types of legal services we provide throughout New Hampshire, contact us today.

Our services in New Hampshire

DUI penalties in New Hampshire can vary, depending on your BAC at the time of your arrest, and any prior existing related arrests. In New Hampshire, if you are found to have a higher blood alcohol content when arrested, you may be facing larger fines and a longer jail sentence. It's important that you contact an experienced DUI attorney to defend you.

Possible penalties

Usually, driving under the influence is classified as a misdemeanor charge, but certain factors can raise it to a felony (this can mean over a year in jail). Possible penalties for a felony or misdemeanor DUI conviction can include: